Electronic fuel conditioning device

ABSTRACT

A fuel conditioning device ( 1 ) for attachment to a fuel line ( 5 ) of a fuel combustion machine to improve combustion efficiency thereof. The device ( 1 ) includes a frequency controlled signal generator ( 14 ) powered by a power supply ( 2 ). The frequency controlled signal generator ( 14 ) has a first output being connected to the first output wire ( 8 ) coiled around the fuel line ( 5 ) for producing a first shark dorsal waveform voltage signal ( 15 ) oscillating at a predetermined frequency. The frequency controlled signal generator ( 14 ) has a second output connected to the second output wire ( 9 ) coiled around the fuel line ( 5 ) for producing a second shark dorsal waveform voltage signal ( 16 ) oscillating at the predetermined frequency. The second shark dorsal waveform voltage signal ( 16 ) is an inverted mirror signal of the first shark dorsal waveform voltage signal ( 15 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fuel conditioning device forimproving the fuel efficiency and lowering pollution emissions of a fuelcombustion machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At about the beginning of this century, Nicolai Tesla discovered therelationship between the polarization of combustible matter and thequality of the combustion. Since then, some apparatus for improvingcombustion efficiency have been proposed in the market, but have enjoyedvery limited success if any.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel conditioningdevice for improving the combustion efficiency and lowering pollutionemissions of a combustion machine, such as a vehicle combustion engineor a heating system, compared to prior art fuel conditioning devices ofsimilar kind.

According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic fuelconditioning device for attachment to a fuel line of a fuel combustionmachine to improve combustion efficiency thereof, the device comprising:

-   -   a frequency controlled signal generator powered by a power        supply, the frequency controlled signal generator having a first        output being connected to a first output wire coiled around the        fuel line for producing a first shark dorsal waveform voltage        signal oscillating at a predetermined frequency, and a second        output being connected to a second output wire coiled around the        fuel line for producing a second shark dorsal waveform voltage        signal oscillating at the predetermined frequency, the second        shark dorsal voltage signal being an inverted mirror signal of        the first shark dorsal waveform voltage signal.

The invention, its use and its advantages will be better understood uponreading of the following non-restrictive description of preferredembodiments thereof, made with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which like numbers refer to like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side partially sectional view of a vehicle provided with anelectronic fuel conditioning device according to a preferred embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed side view of the electronic fuel conditioningshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual block diagram of a fuel conditioning deviceaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a block circuit diagram of internal elements of a fuelconditioning device according to a first preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3B is a block circuit diagram of internal elements of a fuelconditioning device according to a second preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3C is a block circuit diagram of internal elements of a fuelconditioning device according to a third preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3D is a block circuit diagram of internal elements of a fuelconditioning device according to a fourth preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing output voltage curves at theoutput wires of a fuel conditioning device according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a vehicle 10 provided with aninternal combustion engine (not shown). The vehicle 10 has a fuel tank 6that is connected to a fuel line 5 which is in turn connected to thecombustion engine. A fuel conditioning device 1 according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention is installed on the existing fuelline 5 of the vehicle 10. The fuel conditioning device 1 is preferablypowered by a 12 V battery 2 of the vehicle 10. The fuel conditioningdevice 1 may alternatively be powered by other means as persons skilledin the art will understand.

It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that the fuelconditioning device 1 according to the present invention may be used indifferent applications to improve fuel consumption efficiency of fuelcombustion machines. For example, a fuel conditioning device accordingto the present invention may also be installed in a fuel supply line ofa heating system.

Referring FIG. 2, the fuel conditioning device 1 according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention has an electronic controlbox or housing 11 powered by the battery 2 in the case of the vehicle 10shown in FIG. 1, or by any other suitable power supply in the case of aheating system for example. Two conductor wires 8 and 9 come out fromthe housing 11 and are wound around the fuel line 5. It should be notedthat the number of turns and the direction of rotation are dependent ofthe particular application. In case of a vehicle, the number of turnspreferably ranges from 7 to 22. In terms of transformer terminology, thewindings 8 and 9 can be seen as a transformer primary, the fuel line 5can be seen as the transformer core and the fuel 7 flowing through thefuel line 5 can be seen as the transformer secondary.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the electronic fuel conditioning device 1according to the present invention includes a frequency controlledsignal generator 14 powered by a power supply 2. The frequencycontrolled signal generator 14 has a first output being connected to thefirst output wire 8 coiled around the fuel line 5 for producing a firstshark dorsal waveform voltage signal 15 oscillating at a predeterminedfrequency. The frequency controlled signal generator 14 also has asecond output connected to the second output wire 9 coiled around thefuel line 5 for producing a second shark dorsal waveform voltage signal16 oscillating at the predetermined frequency. The second shark dorsalwaveform voltage signal 16 is an inverted mirror signal of the firstshark dorsal waveform voltage signal 15.

Preferably, as mentioned above, the power supply 2 includes a vehiclebattery 2 providing an input d.c. voltage of about 12 V. The frequencycontrolled signal generator 14 is housed in the housing 11 attached tothe fuel line 5. The housing 11 may be attached or secured to the fuelline or placed in an adjacent position. The housing 11 may be providedwith a light indicator 12 for providing an indication of operation ofthe electronic fuel conditioning device 1. The housing 11 may be made ofplastic or metal, and contains the circuitry of the generator 14. Thisgenerator 14 may be split in three blocks which are inter-linked. All ofthis may be built over a printed circuit of approximately 1″×2″ (2.5 cm×5 cm) using integrated circuits of regular size which are easilyavailable in the market. It may also be possible to use surface-mounttype of materials, thus resulting in a smaller electronic fuelconditioning device.

Referring to FIG. 3A, there is shown a block circuit diagram of internalelements of a fuel conditioning device 1 according to a first preferredembodiment of the present invention.

A first element of the electronic fuel conditioning device 1 is avoltage doubler 20 which has an input that is connected to a d.c powersource 2. In the present example, the input may be connected to the 12 Vvehicle battery 2 through diode D1 at the positive input of the powersupply to protect it against polarity reversal. The input feeds thepositive supply of all circuitry and is filtered by capacitor C1, whichhas a value of 1 μF in this example. The d.c. voltage at this point islabeled Vcc and has a value of about +12 V. An integrated circuit U1(presently an LM555) is mounted as an astable oscillator. The resistorsR1, R2 and capacitor C2 (having values of 10 KoHm and 10 μF) determinethe frequency of this oscillator (approximately 3 kHz). A square waveoutputs at output pin 3 and couples via capacitor C3 at diodes D2 andD3. This output signal feeds a stocking capacitor C4, which filters theso created d.c. negative voltage, labeled Vss having a value of about−12 V.

A second element of the electronic fuel conditioning device 1 is a mainoscillator 22, which is built around circuit U2, which may be a LM555,(it may also work with a CD4046). It is an astable oscillator whichfrequency is determined by resistor R3 and capacitor CS (having valuesof 10 Kohm and 0.002 μF). A potentiometer R4 is used as a frequencyadjustment so as to adapt the generator 14 to the type of fuel, and/orthe type of line on which the two output conducting wires 8 and 9 arewound. The wave produced resembles a shark dorsal on an oscilloscope andwill output at pin 2 of the LM555 and sources a bi-polar amplifier 24,which is described below, via capacitor C7 and registers to resistor R6(having values of 0.001 μF and 10 Kohm).

The third element of the electronic fuel conditioning device 1 is thebi-polar amplifier 24. It is built around a dual operational amplifiercomposed of U3A and U3B, which may be embodied by a TL082. It is fed ona positive side by Vcc and on a negative side by Vss. The firstamplifier is mounted as an inverting amplifier and its gain isdetermined by resistors R9 and R10 (100 Kohm and 1 Mohm), and feeds thenegative output at coil L−, which represents the output wire 9. Thesecond amplifier is mounted as non-inverting amplifier which gain isdetermined by resistors R7 and R8 (100 Kohm and 1 Mohm) and feeds thepositive output at coil L+, which represents the first output wire 8.Both resistors R11 and R12 are used as current limiters to protectagainst accidental short circuits.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, if one takes a look on an oscilloscopeto the waves 15 that the fuel conditioning device 1 produces on outputwire 8, it is seen that it resembles to a shark's dorsal. Itexponentially rises to its maximum and then reverses direction abruptlyto its minimum. The inverted mirror image is found on the oppositepolarity on output wire 9. The preferred frequency window of such wavesranges from about few kilohertz to nearly 60 kilohertz.

Referring to FIGS. 3B and 3C, one can appreciate that four modificationshave been added to the circuitry shown in FIG. 3A to improve itsperformance. First, an MOV (metal oxide semiconductor) is added toprotect the circuitry against voltage surge that can be present on the12 volt power supply. The second modification is the use of an ICdedicated to voltage doubling, an ICL7662. The ICL7662 outputs anegative voltage that is more proportional to the positive input supplythan the LM555 (U1) shown in FIG. 3A. More stable, the ICL7662 is ableto feed up to 100 mA comparatively to the configuration shown in FIG. 3Athat could give about 30 mA maximum. The third modification is theadding of a voltage regulator REG1 feeding the main oscillator circuit22. The voltage regulator outputs 5 volts and is regulated whatever theincoming supply since this supply can vary, such as in the case ofvehicle batteries, up to about 15 volts when the charging system is infunction. The fourth modification is more of a practical order. Iteliminates the use of the frequency adjustment's potentiometer R4 shownin FIG. 3A. As shown in FIG. 3B, four fixed value resistors in seriesR2, R3, R4 and R5 are installed with three of them being jumpers. Whenthe unit is delivered, its frequency is 48 kHz. If one or more of thejumpers are cut, the frequency will then be of a new value out of four.These values are 26 kHz, 32 kHz, 36 kHz and 48 kHz.

Referring to FIG. 3B, there is shown a second preferred embodiment ofinternal elements of an electronic fuel conditioning device according tothe present invention. Once again, the circuitry is split in threeblocks which are inter-linked. All of this is built over a printedcircuit of approximately one inch by two. It should be noted that theuse of a surface mount version of the electronic parts eventuallyreduces the size of the resulting device. The device may be built on amalleable printed circuit looking more like a small credit card but moreflexible so that it can be installed by just rolling it over theconduit. This device could be covered with some adhesive with aprotective film that may be removed just before the instalment so as toreduce the installation time.

The first block is the voltage doubler 20. A diode D1 at the positiveinput of the power supply protects against polarity reversal. It feedsthe positive supply of all circuitry and is filtered by capacitor C1.This voltage is labelled Vdd. Parallel to this supply, the metal oxidesemiconductor MOV1 is used to protect the circuitry against surges thatcould be present on the 12 volts supply line.

Capacitor C1 filters this Vdd line. A regulator REG1 outputs the 5 voltsregulated to supply the positive voltage feeding the main oscillator 22and is referred to as Vcc. This tension is stabilised by capacitor C6.An integrated circuit U2 (ICL7662) is used as a voltage doubler. Itsinput supply is stabilised by capacitor C2 and its negative output isstabilised by capacitor C3. This negative output is referred to as Vss.

The second block is the main oscillator 22. The main oscillator is builtaround U1, an LM555, which is an astable oscillator. Its positive supplyis connected to Vcc (5 volts regulated) and its negative supply goesdirectly to 0 volt, ground. Its frequency is determined by the R1resistor and capacitor C4 and also the resistor network composed of R2,R3, R4 and R5. The three last resistors are bypassed with three jumperswitch are labelled J1, J2 and J3, meaning that the device, whendelivered, is tuned to 48 kHz. To get it down to 36 kHz, one needs tocut jumper J1. If one wants 32 kHz, one needs to cut also jumper J2 andfor 26 kHz, then one also cuts jumper J3. This offers the opportunity toadapt the device to the type of conduit and/or the type of combustibletreated. The wave produced resembles a shark dorsal on an oscilloscopeand outputs at pin 2 of the LM555 integrated circuit and sources thebi-polarity amplifier 24 via capacitor C5 and registers to resistor R6.

Referring to FIG. 3C, it should be noted that in some special cases, thefrequency needs to be higher. In those cases, a crystal oscillator isused so that the output frequency is as stable as possible. Integratedcircuit U1, of type <<Fox crystal oscillator>> feeds the clock input ofU5, (CD4017) and its output sources the bi-polar amplifier 24. Thebi-polar amplifier 24 and the voltage doubler 20 stay the same as theabove.

Referring back to FIG. 3B, the third block, or bi-polar amplifier 24, isbuilt around a dual operational amplifier composed of U3A and U3B. Thebi-polar amplifier 24, which may be a TL082, is fed on positive side byVdd (+12 volt nominal) and negative side by Vss (−12 volt nominal). Thefirst amplifier is mounted as an inverting amplifier and its gain isdetermined by resistors R9 and R10 and feeds the negative output at coilL−, which is representative of output wire 9. The second one is mountedas non-inverting amplifier witch gain is determined by resistors R7 andR8 and feeds the positive output at coil L+, which is representative ofoutput wire 8. Both resistors R11 and R12 are used as a current limiterto protect against accidental short-circuit. The negative supply beingmore stable, the negative output completes more accurately the positive.

Referring to FIG. 3D, one other improvement consists in using amicroprocessor as the main oscillator 22. It should be noted that thepower supply 2, the voltage doubler 20 and the bi-polar amplifier 24 arenot changed from the design described above.

The microprocessor is referred to as U1. Its working frequency is 10 MHzand is determined by crystal Y1. The IO4 input is connected to thejunction of R10 and OPT1. This ensemble is an infrared detector and isused as the exterior world communication channel. Through this channel,one can input the choice of parameter so that the system may be adaptedto the environment as far as the type of combustible and the type ofpiping used. It should be noted that a handheld type of IR transmitterallows the installer to communicate with the module so to adapt thismodule. Line IO3 is connected to the junction of capacitor C7, resistorR11 and temperature transducer TS1. This gives a reference of theambient temperature and, from the internal program, it allows adjustingthe parameter as far as frequency, waveform and amplification of theshark dorsal waveform signals are concerned. The output labelled IO2drives transistor Q1 which is connected from resistor R8 to ground. Thiscircuit adapts the impedance depending on output frequency. TransistorQ2 is connected to capacitor C5. The IO0 output tied to resistor R9,followed by C4 to ground corrects, with the preceding circuit, thewaveform depending on pre-programmed parameters. This ensemble becomesthe output frequency which sources the bi-polar amplifier.

The fuel conditioning device according to the present invention may beused in many applications such as propane gas systems, natural gassystems, water conditioning systems, air systems, hydraulic oil systems,etc. It has also been observed that the fuel conditioning device mayproduce a counter effect over rust in several components of a vehicle.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theseprecise embodiments and that various changes and modifications may beeffected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of thepresent invention.

1. An electronic fuel conditioning device (1) for attachment to a fuel line (5) of a fuel combustion machine to improve combustion efficiency thereof, the device comprising: a frequency controlled signal generator (14) powered by a power supply (2), the frequency controlled signal generator (14) having a first output being connected to a first output wire (8) coiled around the fuel line (5) for producing a first shark dorsal waveform voltage signal (15) oscillating at a predetermined frequency, and a second output being connected to a second output wire (9) coiled around the fuel line (5) for producing a second shark dorsal waveform voltage signal (16) oscillating at the predetermined frequency, the second shark dorsal voltage signal (16) being an inverted mirror signal of the first shark dorsal waveform voltage signal (15).
 2. The electronic fuel conditioning device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the power supply (2) includes a vehicle battery providing an input d.c. voltage of about 12 V and wherein the frequency controlled signal generator (14) is housed in a housing (11) attached to the fuel line (5).
 3. The electronic fuel conditioning device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the frequency controlled signal generator (14) includes: a main oscillator circuit (22) for producing a shark dorsal waveform oscillating at the predetermined frequency; a bi-polar-amplifier (24) coupled to the main oscillator circuit (22) to produce the first and second shark dorsal waveform voltage signals (15, 16); and a voltage doubler circuit (20) for powering the bi-polar amplifier circuit (24) with a positive d.c. voltage (Vcc) and a negative d.c. voltage (Vss).
 4. The electronic fuel conditioning device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the voltage doubler circuit (20) includes an input diode (D1) for protection against polarity reversal and a filtering capacitor (C1) for filtering and stabilizing an input d.c. voltage.
 5. The electronic fuel conditioning device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the power doubler circuit (20) includes an astable oscillator integrated circuit (U1) having an output being connected to a capacitor and diode circuit (C3, C4, D2, D3) for producing the negative d.c. voltage (Vss).
 6. The electronic fuel conditioning device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the main oscillator circuit (22) includes a LM555 astable oscillator integrated circuit (U2) being connected to a resistance (R3), a variable resistance (R4) and capacitor (C5) for adjusting the predetermined frequency, a trigger pin of the LM555 astable oscillator integrated circuit (U2) being connected to an input of the bi-polar amplifier (24) through a coupling capacitor (C7) and coupling resistance (R6).
 7. The electronic fuel conditioning device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the bi-polar amplifier (24) includes a TL082 integrated circuit having a first non-inverting amplifier and a second inverting amplifier for producing the first and second shark dorsal voltage signals (15, 16).
 8. The electronic fuel conditioning device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the voltage doubler circuit (20) further includes a metal oxide semiconductor for protection against voltage surges of d.c. incoming power.
 9. The electronic fuel conditioning device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the voltage doubler circuit (20) further includes a ICL 7662 integrated circuit for producing the negative d.c. voltage (Vss).
 10. The electronic fuel conditioning device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the voltage doubler circuit (20) further includes a voltage regulator (REG1) for feeding the main oscillator circuit (22).
 11. The electronic fuel conditioning device (1) according to claim 10, wherein the main oscillator circuit (22) includes a set of three resistors (R3, R4, R5) for adjusting the predetermined frequency.
 12. The electronic fuel conditioning device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined frequency is adjusted to 48 kHz, 36 kHz, 32 kHz or 26 kHz according to the related jumper over resistance (R3, R4, R5) that are cut.
 13. The electronic fuel conditioning device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the main oscillator circuit (22) includes a crystal oscillator circuit for feeding a clock input of a CD4017 integrated circuit, the CD4017 integrated circuit having an output for feeding the bi-polar amplifier (24).
 14. The electronic fuel conditioning device (1) according to claim 13, wherein the main oscillator circuit (22) includes a microprocessor connected to an infrared detector and communication channel for controlling the predetermined frequency, amplitudes and shapes of the first and second shark dorsal waveform voltage signals (15, 16).
 15. The electronic fuel conditioning device (1) according to claim 13, wherein the main oscillator circuit (22) includes a temperature sensor for obtaining a temperature value used to correct the predetermined frequency, amplitudes and shapes of the first and second shark dorsal voltage signals (15, 16). 